# phagocyte

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈfeɪɡəsaɪt/

## Definitions
1. A cell of the immune system, such as a neutrophil, macrophage or dendritic cell, that engulfs and destroys viruses, bacteria and waste materials, or in the case of mature dendritic cells; displays antigens from invading pathogens to cells of the lymphoid lineage.

## Etymology
From the German Phagocyt, modified on the pattern of -cyte; phago- + -cyte.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/phagocyte